Data Protection Webinar Series: Data protection and edtech (booking open)

Like most sectors there’s a technological solution for every task in education but where those solutions involve processing children’s data, greater care must be taken.

In this session Phil Tompkins (Partner, Data Protection) and Graham Vials (Partner & Head of Education) will look at the issues arising from the use of edtech solutions in the classroom and in the school or college environment more generally. Edtech is an established part of the delivery of education in the UK. More and more products are coming to the market helping schools and colleges to make the administrative and education processes more efficient.

Understanding what data protection laws say about the processing of personal data is particularly important in the context of these new technological solutions. We’ll look at the ICO’s recent “Edtech examined” report on Edtech highlighting good and bad practice. We’ll identify common problems in the sector and set out the steps you can take to make sure your use of ed tech solutions don’t solve an administrative problem while creating a data protection one.

Book your place today

Technology should be transforming education, not exposing schools to unnecessary legal and regulatory risk. Join us and discover how to use EdTech with greater confidence and clarity.

Places are limited, so reserve yours today.

22 September 2026
10.00am -11.00am
Zoom

You will be able to ask your own questions in advance via the registration form, or you can use the Q&A feature in Zoom on the day.

Webinar learning points

• Spot the warning signs in EdTech contracts before you sign.
• Understand who is actually the Controller and who is the Processor, and why getting it wrong creates significant legal risk.
• Carry out meaningful DPIAs that genuinely assess risk, consider the legal basis for the proposed processing and reduce risks rather than becoming a tick-box exercise
• Understand the regulatory requirements where the data gathered by the EdTech product is going to be stored outside the UK
• Ask suppliers the questions they often hope schools and colleges won’t ask.
• Understand what to expect in an EdTech product that features AI or that processes biometric data
• Protect pupils’ personal information while still embracing innovation and AI.
• Build stronger governance around procurement, contracts and ongoing supplier management
• How to have the right data compliance information on new EdTech products to be able to demonstrate to staff, parents and pupils that you’re processing their data in accordance with the law
• Ensure your school or college can demonstrate accountability when the ICO comes knocking.

Who should attend the webinar?

• School business leaders
• Headteachers and senior leaders
• Education trust, academies, and independent school leaders
• School or college IT directors and network managers
• Data protection officers in education
• Governance and compliance teams in local authorities and education settings
• Procurement leads in local authorities and education settings

22 September 2026
10.00am -11.00am
Zoom

Need support now

If you would like legal guidance on any of the issues related to data protection or education law, you can speak to Phil or Graham about how Ward Hadaway can support you and your school or college.